Heater



De. 17, 1935. 17|. J. FlNbLl-:Y

HE'ATER Filed Sept. "7, 1934 .Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Howard J End/e7.

BY f

i ATTORNEYB Dec. 17, 1935. a J. FINDLEY 2,024,440

HEATER Filed Sept. 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Howard J End/ey.

WQew-MM ATTORNEYb.

. Patented Dec.v` 1935 NITED `S'lTA'l` ES PATENT FFlCE Y HEATER Howard J. Findley, Cleveland, Ghio, assgnor to i The Bishop & Babcock Mfg. Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of @hic v Application .september 7, i934, serial No. 743,111 i1 Claims. (ci. :iSv-iai) v invention relates to automobile heaters and relates particularly to that type of heater for the passenger compartment of automobiles which is adapted to circulate air through the interstices of a hot water or similar radiator'by the effect of. a power driven fan or blower which fan or blower may be rotated at a high rate of speed by a motor,

preferably an electric motor. Motor operated heaters of this type are well known, but so far as I am aware either are undesirably bulky for proper placement in there- A rstricted space provided for heaters in the modern l5 compact, the roofs being lower and the instrufor automobiles of the'presentday type adapted 15 ment board andthe space below the Iinstrument to carry passengers. board being more constricted especiallyon the Other objects of my invention and the invenpassenger side of the vehicle heretofore providingv tion itself will be better understood by reference the proper space for heaters, dueto the fact that to the accompanying drawings illustrating an .o automobiles are now commonly equipped with embodiment of my invention. 20- glove compartments on said instrument board Referring now to the accompanying drawandradio compartments, lor a combination of ingszl both. Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view, partially frag- Such additional equipment and compartments mentary, of a preferred embodiment of my inveni- 2.3 secured to or secured adjacent to the rear of the tion; 25 instrument board on the passenger side of the Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially fragmentary, of vehicle passenger compartment leaves a very the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 1;. narrow vertical space between the under sur- Fig.Y 3 is a fragmentary velevational view of the face of the radio equipment or compartment iire-wall and dashboard of an automotive ve-V ?ll therefor and the upwardly inclined floor board, hicle showingV the preferred mounting of the 30 and where it is'desired to install a-heater. it is heater of Figs. 1 and 2; f found that prior heaters are too bulky to -be Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the heater properly installed in the small f vertical space of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the regulating vanes in remaining, this being duc to the fact that for closed position; "-3 their .weight and size they are relatively in- Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 35 eiiioient. Also commonly heaters previously in 5--5 of Fig. 4; y f use areundesirably inemcient with respect to the Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along vthe lines ability to regulate the direction and amount of 6 6 of Fig. 5. the heated air discharged from the heater to the Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing 40 passenger compartment. k the method of mounting the motor within the 40 An object of my invention therefore is to proheater. vide an improved motor operated heater prefer. y Referring to the different figures of drawings, ably of the electric motor type whose outside I have indicated the heater casing generally at over-all dimensions are such as to enable the it and preferablyformed of sheet metal com- 45 entire heater to be installed on the passenger prising generally parallel topand bottom Walls il 45 side of the passenger compartment of a motor and i2`respectively, joined by a semi-'cylindrical vehicle of the up-to-date low built type, without rear wall i3 Vand end walls it and i5. The top, unduly restricting the leg room aorded the combottom and rear walls are preferably formed as a panion passenger riding in such an automobile. unit and the end walls securedthereto in any 5D Another object of my invention is to provide lsuitable manner suchas welding, the front por- 50 automobilepassenger compartment due to the fact that such automobiles are now. made much more van improved means for effecting a ready regulativey flow of lheated air in any desired quantity within reasonable limits to the passenger compartment of the automobile. p

www' 'orient of my invention is to provide an improved heater for vpassenger automobiles in which the operating parts may be efficiently disposed in an outer casing suitably vformed to conform with the space provided for such heater below the instrument board and 'appurtenances 5 thereto of a passenger automobile.

AAnother object of my invention is to provide an improved heater o f the type described which is more eiiicient in electrical current consumed to drive the electric motor thereof for a given 10 cubic foot out-put of heated air to thepassenger compartment. l

Another object of `my invention is toprovide an improved heater for automobiles and especially -tion of the casing being openv for the reception `of a heat exchange core generally indicated at it. The central portion of the casing is preferably re-inforced by means of an additional U-shaped strip il weldingly secured tothe central portion 55 cle by two vertically spaced bolts |9-I9 projected through perforations in the rear wall of y the casing and locked to the firewall I8 by bolts 26 and 2|. Suitable spacing washers 22 and 23 having their confronting faces conforming to the curvature of the casing rear wall and abutting the inner'and outer faces of the same, are tightly securled intermediate the nut 20 and the head of bolt 9.

Thus, a simple and rigid mounting is provided whereby the casing may be easily and quickly secured to the firewall I8.

The casing end walls |4 and I6 are concentrically perforated to provide an annular ring and radially extending ribs 26 having relatively large air entry ports although I contemplate that variously formed air entry ports may be provided.

An electric motor 21 preferably disposed equidistant from each of the casing end walls I4 and I5 is mounted within the casing by means of brackets 28 interconnecting the top andbottom walls of the casing and the motor housing as best illustrated in Fig. 7. Insulating means such as rubber is disposed between Vthe brackets and the casing walls to maintain the casing insulated in the event of a short circuit in the motor. The motor may be of any suitable type operable by a conventional six-volt automobile battery, the

motor circuit comprising a lead 30 from a conventional battery 3| to a variable resistance switch 32, thence the lead 33 to the motor and a suitably grounded return lead 34.

The motor shaft is extended on each side of the motor as indicated at 28 and a rotor generally indicated at 29 is rotatably secured thereto by means of a set-screw 3| projected through the rotor hub and engaging' a flattened portion of shaft 28.

As best illustrated in Figs.v 1 and 2, the rotor blades have their radial outer peripheral portions lying in a common cylinder and the radial inner peripheral portions extend radially and axially outwardly from the rotor hub to provide generally triangular shaped blades, the radial inner blade surfaces forming a frusto-conical shaped air-receiving conduit. As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the blades are also inclined rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation from a radial plane whereby a more eillcient propulsion -of air is effected.

It will be noted that the axis of the motor 21 is disposed substantially nearer the bottom wall of the casing than the top wall whereby an air conduit of increasing volume is -provided intermediate the casing rear wall I3 and the rearward peripheral path of the rotor blades.

Prior to being forced through the radiator core I6, the air drawn inwardly through the laterally disposed casing ports will be forced into a reservoir comprising a space forwardly of the rotor and rearwardly of the radiator core. To prevent this air from being drawn back by the rotor blades prior to being heated, a cut-off generally indicated at 35 is provided, the cut-off comprising a sheet metal plate generally of inverted V- shape extending transversely of the casing and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding. The apex of the V or the peak of the cut-off 35 is disposed relatively close to the peripheral path of the. rotor blades, and the inner wall oi' the'cut-oif is arcuate conforming generally to the said path whereby little if any air l prior to being heated will be drawn inwardly between the cut-oil and the blades. I

The radiator core I6 is disposed at the forwar end of the casing and secured therein in any suitable manner as by welding, and may be of any conventional form wherein a closed chamber is provided adapted to have the cooling liquid of the engine forced therethrough, and provided with a plurality'of transversely extending tubes forming air passages through the liquid chamber whereby the air will b'e heated during its passage through the heated tubes. Conduits indicated at 36 and 31 effect passage of the cooling liquid for the vehicle power plant through the chamber of core I6, the upper conduit 36 preferably comprising the incoming conduit and the lower conduit 31 being the return conduit, both conduits at their opposite ends being suitably connected at suitable points in the circulatory system of the engine cooling liquid.

'I'he amount and'direction of heated air passing wardlyextending peripheral 'flange 42 encasing the forward portion of the casing I0. The frame 4| may be removably secured to the casing I0 in .any suitable manner as by employing screws 43 projected through the flange 42 and threadedly engaging the casing.

The method of mounting the vanes 39 and 40 is best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and comprises spaced bosses integral with and extending forwardly of the top edge of frame 4|, the bosses being indicated at 43. A circular rod 45 is projected through interfitted aligned sleeves provided on the vanes 39 and 40 whereby the rod 45 provides a hinge bearing for the vanes in the usual manner, the rod being pivotally supported at its upper end by means of an'enlarged head 46 disposed between the bosses 43. The head 46 may' be formed integral with rod 45 or secured thereto in any desired manner, the' method shown comprising providing spaced generally rectangular shaped lateral extending ears 41 at the upper end of the rod and having the ears encased by portions of the` head 46 during a die-forming operation.

Asbest illustrated .in Fig. 6, the head 46 is recessed to provide a sleeve through which a rodsupporting pin 48 is projected and maintained in a desired position lby having the head of the pin threadedly engaging one of the bosses 43, and the recess also forming a housing for a spring 49 and a washer 50 whereby a desired frictional engagement between the head 46 and the bosses 43 may be effected by manipulation of the pin 48.

The aforementioned construction regulating the frictional contact between the head and the bosses disposed on either side thereof, prevents rattling or loosening of thel parts and an adjustment means eliminating any such rattle which tionally, cooperates with means later to bedescribed in maintaining the rod 45 and supported vanes in any regulating position relative to the radiator core such as the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The. primary means permitting the vanes to be 75 d l:moved angularly outwardly relative to the radiaf tor core and maintained in a desired position to controljtheidirection of the heated air emanating from the core are best illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein therear' peripheral portion of the head 46 is pro' "'videdwith a plurality of transversely extending d notches as indicated'at 5I and adapted to be resiliently engaged by a forwardly extending lip `of asheet-.metal element 52, the element 62 being positions determined bythe transversely extend-- ing grooves 5l and will be maintained in this position partially due toy the cooperating frictional 4 force Aeffected betweenthe head 'I6 and the inner face of the boss 43 due to thesprin'g. The vanes 39 andIlI-are'shinged aboutthe rod f 4s with* sumcient frictional ccntat so that they will remain in a pivoted position about the rod thereby regulating 4 the amount `of/ heated air passing outwardly v'through the radiator. Thus, referring to Iiigii,l it is obvious that the heating 'effectmay be substantially nullied by having all yof. the vanes in a closed position as indicated, that the maximum heating'effect `may be obtained by rotating all of the'vanesabout the rod 45 to a 90 angle, or that a fourth of the available heat only may be used through opening only one of the four 'vanes shown.

The compactness of the heater is best illustrated in Fig. 3.\ whereinv the heater is shown mounted on the firewall of a modern automotive vehicle of the low-built type having relatively little room between the radio on the .companion passenger side of the vehicle. Due to the increasing tendency toward low-built cars and accessories which are mounted on the dashboard and firewall, it is necessary that a relatively compact and efficient heater be prof vided for the modern automobile.

I Although I have shown and described a pre-l ferred embodiment'of my invention, I conteniplate that numerous and ,extensive departures may' be made therefrom without departing from Athe spirit of my invention and the scope of thel appended claims. y s

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is: y

1. A heater for the passenger compartment of "automobiles comprising a horizontally flattened casing', a radiator core disposed within the casing across vthe front thereof, an electric motor comprising a driving shaft extending laterally of the casing, aib'lower rotor carried by and adapted to be rotated by said shaft, and means comprising walls of said casing for admitting air to thelateral lapproach side of said radiator core, said radiator core affording an outlet for said passage and comprising liquid conduit passages for heated liquid to heat said core, whereby air forced through said core will be heated -thereby beforevdischarginginto the passenger compartment of the automobile, and a cut-off comprising an .element extending transversely of the casing and adjacent a l base of the dashboard and the inclined floor board and equippedwith a f erally portion of the lperipheral vpathofthe rotor and forwardly of the axisthereof `minimizing the return of heated air to the rotor.

2,. A heater for the passenger compartment of automobiles comprising a horizontally flat- 5 tened casing,` a radiator core disposed within the casing across the front thereof, an electric motor comprising a driving shaft extending laterally of the casing, a blower rotor carried by and adapted to be rotated by .said shaft, and l' -means comprising walls of said casing for admit-A ting air to the lateral surface of said rotor and for affording a blower` air discharge passage of progressively increased cross-sectional area between the periphery of said rotor and said walls l in the form of a splral'for conducting air impelled by said rotor to the approach side of said radiator core, said radiator core affording an' ioutlet for said passage and comprising ,liquid conduit passages for heated liquid to heat said 2'0 core, whereby air forced through said core will be heated thereby before discharging into the passenger compartment of the automobile, said casing comprising upper and lower walls and a rear-wall, said rear wall being of approximately semi-cylindrical form and joining the other walls at its two ends, and apertured side walls intrconnecting each of said other walls and adapted to receive air through their apertures at the intake side of said rotor.

3. A heater for the passenger compartment of automobiles comprising a casing, a radiator core disposed within the casing Vacross the front thereof, an electric motor comprising a driving shaftv extending beyond its two ends, said'shaft 35 extending laterally of the casing, separate blower rotors carried by and adapted to be rotated each by a different end ofv said shaft, and means comprising walls of 'said casing for admitting air to the lateral surfaces of said rotors and for aiford- 40 ing a blower conduit passage in the vforni of a spiral for cold air to the approach side of said radiator core,` said radiator core affording Aan outlet for said passage and comprising liquid conduit passages for heated liquid y to heat said core, whereby the air passing through said core will be heated by said liquid before discharging into the passenger compartment of the automobile, and a cut-off comprising an element extending transversely of the casing and adjacento a portion of the peripheral path of the rotorand forwardly thereof minimizing the return of heated air to the rotor.

4. A heaterjfor vthe passenger compartment of automobiles comprising a casing, a radiator core disposed within the casing across the front thereof, an electric motor comprising a driving shaft extending beyond its two ends, said shaft extending laterally of the casing, separate blower rotors carried by and adapted to be rotated each by a different end of said shaft, means comprising walls of said casing for admitting air to the .lateral surfaces of said rotors .and for affording a blower conduit passage-rin the form of a spiral for cold air to the approach side of said radiatorA core, said radiator core affording an outlet` for said passage and comprisng liquid conduit passages for heated liquid to heat said core, whereby the air passing through said core will be heated by said liquid before discharging 70 into Vthe passenger compartment of the automobile, the radially inner edge 4of said rotor blade diverging axially outwardly to form al genfrusto-conical shaped air intake conduit therebetween and a cut-off element disposed for-l Iwardiy of the rotor adjacent a portion of the peripheral path of the.

generally conforming to and rotor and extending transversely of the casing for restricting the return of heated air to the rotor.

5. In a heater for the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, a casing having laterally disposed air intake ports and a radiator core for the transmission of heated air to the passenger compartment, means for controlling the amount' and direction of heated airpassing into the said compartment comprising a plurality of vanes adapted to cover said core preventing the passage of heated air therethrough and individually and hingedly movable, a rod forming a hinging support for eachv two of said vanes pivotally supported adjacent the top of the radiator core, said` rod being adapted to be maintained in a plurality .of predetermined angular positions relative to the radiator core by a member resiliently urged to engagement with cooperating means provided in a portion of the rod adjacent the pivotal axis.

6.v A heater as described in claim 5 and wherein the rod`is pivotally supported between spaced integral portions of the top of the radiator core, and adjustable spring means are provided for varying the frictional contact between the said core portions and the rod portion disposed therebetween. ,i

7. A heater for the passenger compartment of automobiles comprising a horizontally flattened casing, a radiator core disposed within the casing across the front thereof, an electric motor comprising a driving shaft extending laterally of the casing, a blower rotor carried by and adapted to be rotated by said' shaft, and means comprising walls of said casing for admitting air to the lateral surface of said rotor and for'ailording a blower air discharge passage of progressively increased cross-sectional area between the periphery of said rotor and said walls in the form of a spiral forconducting air impelled by said rotor to the approach side of said radiator core, said radiator core affording an outlet for said pas-v` sage and comprising liquid conduit passages for heated liquid to heat said core, whereby air forced through said core will beheated thereby before discharging into the passenger compartment of the automobile, and means preventing the re. entry of air intermediate the rotor and the radiator core to the rotor comprising a cut-off ex-y tending transversely of the casing and mounted upon a horizontal wall thereof having an arcuate portion disposed adjacent to and conforming generally to the path of rotor blades.

8. An automobile type heater comprising a generally flattened casing having horizontal top and bottom walls of greater extent than its vertical side walls, and having a perforate heated front wall, and an arcuate rear wall, a side wall thereof having an air inlet opening therethrough, a blower mechanism comprising a motor having a driving shaft and a blower rotor driven by said shaft,

casing walls and to said rear wall, and being progressively increasingly spaced from said rear wall proceeding from the 1o junction of said rear wall and said horizontal wall along said rear wall to deilne a substantially scroll shaped air conducting conduit of progressively increased area between said rotor and said horizontal and rear walls.` l5

9. An automobile type heaterI comprising a generally flattened casing having horizontal top and bottom walls of greater extent than its vertical side walls, and having a perforate heated front wall, and an arcuate rear wall, opposite side walls 2o thereof each having an air inlet opening therethrough, a blower mechanism comprising a motor having a driving shaft and a pair of blower rotors driven by said shaft, said rotors on opposite ends of said shaft and each so disposed as to present z5 an axial air receiving end toward said side wall opening and with its periphery disposed closely adjacentto one of said horizontal casing walls and to said rear wall, and being progressively increasingly spaced from said rear wall proceeding so from the junction of said rear wall-and said horizontal wall along said rear wall to define a-substantially scroll shaped air conducting conduit of progressively increased area between said rotors and said horizontal and rear walls. ,u

10. Vane. means for a vehiclev heater of the type comprising a casing having a radiator portion adapted to discharge heated air into the vehicle passenger compartment, said vane means comprising a 4support hingedly secured to the o ycasing by an end thereof and movable anguiarly outwardly of the radiator portion, and a pair of vanes rotatably secured to the support for variably restricting the flow of heated air from the heater. 45 11. Vane means for a vehicle heater ofthe type comprising a casing having a radiator portion adapted to discharge heated air into the vehicle passenger compartment, said vane means adapted to directionally emanating from the radiator portion and comprising a rod pivotally supported .adjacent the top edge of the radiator portion, means for locky ing said rod in a plurality of angular positions in a plane extending at right angles to the radiator 55 portion, vanes hingedly carried by said rod'and adapted to 4be frictionally maintained in any relative hinging position. Y

` HOWARD J. vv

control heated air 50y 

